Device for placing tiles on building walls or the like

ABSTRACT

A device for placing tiles on building walls or the like area consisting of a stationary scaffold and a tile placement unit, said unit being guided along said scaffold and having means for pressing tiles on the area to be covered, a means for vibrating the pressing-on means to obtain a uniform distribution of mortar and means for feeding the tile to the press-on means.

United States Patent 1 51 3,673,755 Chl'ISt July 4, 1972 [54] FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS BUILDING WALLS OR THE LIKE [72] Inventor: Herbert Christ, Bathildistrasse, 3548 Arol-.

sen, Germany [22] Filed: Feb. 5, 1971 [2]] App]. No.: 112,905

[52] U.S.Cl ..52/749 [51] ..E04g 21/22 [58] Field of Search ..52/741, 747, 749

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,519,637 12/1924 Shannon ..52/749 1BB 1884i 190 56,260 5/1939 Denmark ..52/749 41,263 7/1937 Netherlands. .....52/749 287,839 10/1915 Germany ..52/749 981,300 1/1965 Great Britain ..52/749 Primary Examiner-Henry C. Sutherland Attorney.l0hn Lezdey [5 7] ABSTRACT 25 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEnJuL' 4 m2 3,673,755

. sum 1 or a INVENTOR HERBERT CHRST BY PATENTEnJuL 41272 3,673,755

sum 20F a INVENTOR HERBERT CHRIS T PATENTEUJUL- 41212 3.673.755

sum 1111 s PATENTED JUL 4 I972 SHEET 6 OF 8 IIIIII/II/ 1 /////A'///// HERBERT W T BY W 292 I PATENTEDJUL 4am 3.673.755

sum 70F 8 Fig. 11

IN V EV TOR I fRBERT CHRIST DEVICE FOR PLACING TILES ON BUILDING WALLS OR THE LIKE This invention relates to a device for placing tiles on building walls or the like, consisting of a stationary scaffold and a tile placement device which is guided along the stationary scaffold and which is provided with a press on plate for the tiles, by means of which the tiles, which are placed upon the press on plate with their front side, can be moved forward and backward in the direction toward the building wall or the like, which is to be covered, and can be pressed against this building wall.

The placement of tiles, for example, on bathroom walls or on the outside walls of buildings is today still a very laborious and time-consuming effort. Since the tiles are generally placed completely by hand such as when the tiles are covered with mortar, pressed against the wall, and then accurately plumbed and brought into balance and must then be firmly mortared on, it takes about one hour to place one square meter of tiles when we use size tiles. An additional disadvantage is to be seen in that the tiles can be placed only by trained craftsmen.

This invention is therefore based on the purpose of creating a device, through which the work operations required for the placement of tiles, can be accomplished automatically, together with the corresponding adjustment operations.

According to this invention, this problem is solved in the following manner: The tile placement device is made in the form of a tile laying machine whose press-on plate can be moved independently and/or automatically forward and backward in a direction toward the building wall or the like, which is to be covered, and which reveals at least one shaker element which is made to oscillate during the press-on operation with regard to each tile.

The invention offers the advantages that the tile laying machine, after it has been placed upon the scaffold into the position desired for the placement of the tile, operates automatically in that it presses the tiles against the wall by means of the press-on plate which is pushed forward, whereby the vibrating shaker elements at the same time hammer against the front side of the tile. This results in a considerable saving of time and effort. The vibration of the shaker elements furthermore guarantees a much more uniform distribution of the mortar than can be obtained by the tile layer. In addition, the device according to this invention can be operated by unskilled persons.

The entire device for the placement of tiles is preferably operated pneumatically.

A feed part is provided for the further transport of the tile laying machine in the horizontal direction. This feed part preferably has a double-action cylinder-piston arrangement.

The feed part can be arranged either in the housing of the tile laying machine or as a separate structural component next to the machine.

All types of cement mortar, which also come into consideration for the placement of tiles by manual activity, are also suitable for the placement of tiles using the device of this invention. The mortar is essentially influenced by sand. The mixture ratio is generally 1:5 without any additive whatsoever, whereby the water content depends on the nature of the wall and the strength or thickness of the mortar which is required for the placement of the tiles in a perpendicular andflush manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS I FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the tile laying device of this invention consisting of the tile laying machine and the feeder part;

FIGS. and 2b show the front view and side view, respectively, of the tile laying machine;

FIG. 3 shows the cross sectional view of the member for the forward and backward pushing of the side plates of this invention;

FIG. 4 shows the cross sectional view of the member for the forward and backward pushing of the fork member of this invention;

FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of a member for the forward and backward pushing of a press-on plate;

FIG. 6 shows a top view upon a cross bearing the striker member of this invention;

FIG. 7 shows a cross sectional view through a membrane cylinder by means of which the cross is made to vibrate;

FIG. 7a shows a schematic view of a switching diagram for a vibration valve;

FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal cross sectional view through the feeder part of this invention;

FIG. 9 shows a lateral cross sectional view through the feeder part;

FIG. 10 shows a pneumatic switching diagram for the tile placement device, and

FIGS. 1 l and 12 are cutaway illustrations of the scaffold that carries the tile placement device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to FIG. 1, the tile placement device contains a tile laying machine 1 and a feeder part 91, both of which are mounted on a rail 182. The rail 182 is arranged horizontally in balance. The tile laying machine 1 and the feeder part 91 each have a guide part which entirely or partly grasps the rail 182 and which makes it possible to move the tile laying machine 1 and the feeder part 91 on the rail 182.

Tile laying machine 1 is used for the attachment of the tiles. As shown in FIG. 1 there is a housing 2 on whose lower part there is provided a guide 3 by means of which the tile laying machine I is placed upon rail 182. On the lower part of housing 2, a fork 5 protrudes and upon this fork there is placed the mortar-covered tile 24 in such a manner that it will come to rest with its viewing or front surface against a press-on plate 7 which constitutes the front part of the housing 2. After placement of the tile 24 on the fork 5, the press-on plate 7 is pushed forward in the direction toward the wall 25 which is to be covered whereby the mortar-covered tile surface is pressed on the wall 25. On the four comers of the press-on plate 7 there is provided, in each case, a borehole 9 into which is inserted a striker 11. These strikers l 1 are moved forward and backward by means of a device provided in the interior of housing 2 so that they will temporarily protrude outward and forward from out of the boreholes 9 above the plate surface and will hammer against the front surface 'of tile 24 whereby this tile will not only be pressed against the wall 25 but will simultaneously also be struck at the four comers. The frequency with which the strikers 11 strike the tile 24 is, for example, about 5-10 cycles per second. That is, while the press-on plate 7 does the job of firmly holding tile 24 on wall 25, which is what the tile layer must normally do with one hand, the strikers 11 do the striking job when the tile layer normally does with the other hand with the help of the trowel handle or the like. After completion of this operation, which takes a few seconds, the press-on plate 7 and the fork 5 are automatically pulled back so that the placed-on tile 24 will now lie completely free and the tile laying machine 1 can be placed by the tile layer into the position required for the next tile. During this span of time, the oscillations of the strikers 11 are stopped.

After the tile laying machine 1 has been placed into the desired position, the fork 5 is once again pushed forward so that the next tile can be placed. Thereafter, the press-on plate 7 is once again pushed forward along with the simultaneous operation of the strikers 11. These processes are repeated until a row of tiles has been placed completely.

In order to prevent the mortar from being pressed away to the sides as the tiles are pressed on and hammered on, there are provided, on the two sides of the housing 2, movable side plates 13 which like the press-on plate 7 and the fork 5 can be pushed forward. These side plates 13 are either as before or after the placement of a tile 24 upon the fork 5 pushed forward so far that they will hit the wall 25 upon which the tiles are to be placed. As a result one can prevent the mortar from being pressed away to the sides and can at the same time make sure that there is obtained clean seam. The seams will not have to be scratched out afier the placement of the tiles. After the placement of each individual tile the side plates 13 are retracted so that the tile laying machine 1 can be pushed on.

The individual operations of the tile laying machine 1 are brought about pneumatically. A pneumatic control is considered particularly advantageous because there is frequently no electric power available at the construction site and because the pneumatic devices can, without any difficulties, be connected to the compressed-air containers, or the like, which are brought along. The device of this invention is not confined to pneumatic control members. Basically, all control members are suitable by means of which the individual movements can be accomplished, for example, control members revealing electrical-mechanical, electromagnetic-mechanical, hydraulic or purely mechanical levers and/or cam disks. However, pneumatic control members offer many advantages. For

example, in contrast to magnetic control members, there is no danger of over-heating.

FIGS. 2a, 2b show the housing 2 of the tile laying machine 1 and the movable side plates 13 which are on the sides. To retain the side plates 13 there are provided pins 15 and 17 which protrude through the guides 19 and 21, into the side walls 13 of the housing 2. The guides 19 on the rear side in the simplest case run horizontally from front to rear so that the pins 15 can be moved forward and backward in a horizontal plane. The pins 17, which are attached to the front of the side plates 13 protrude through guides 21 which run diagonally from top to bottom and'from back to front, so that the side plates 13, when the pins 15 are moved forward will simultaneously swing somewhat downward and, in the forward end position, will come to rest closely at the vertical wall 25 with their front edges 23.

To drive the rear pins 15, according to FIG. 3, there is a pneumatic cylinder-piston arrangement 27 whose cylinder 29 is attached to a lower bottom wall 31. Attached to the piston rod 35, which protrudes out of the cylinder 29, and which is attached to piston 33, there is a U-shaped bent clamp 36 whose two shanks are roughly parallel to the wall of the cylindenAt the ends of the two shanks there are attached in any desired manner connecting members 37 on whose end the pins 15 are used to guide the side plates 13. On pins 15 and 17 there can also be as indicated on the forward pins 17, position also be used easily running ball bearings.

The cylinder-piston arrangement 27 preferably has a double-action cylinder 29 which can be hit by compressed air on both sides of the piston 33. When the impact comes from one side of the piston, the piston rod 35 is pushed forward in the direction of wall 25 until the side plates 13 come to rest against the wall 25. When the cylinder-piston arrangement 27 is hit from the other side of the piston 33, the side plates 13 are retracted again so that they will not press against the tiles which have been placed in case of the sideways movement of the tile laying machine 1. Furthermore, the side plates 13 are rigidly connected by a bar 41.

According to FIG. 4, there can be provided in housing 2 a I cylinder-piston arrangement 43 for the purpose of pushing the fork forward and backward. The fork 5 can be guided along the underside of the'housing 2 similar to the side plates 13 by means of pins which protrude through the corresponding grooves in the housing wall. A special manner of fastening and guiding the fork 5, on housing 2 is not essential to the invention; instead, it is up to the preference of the designer. According to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is a slit 47 in one rail 45 and this slit 45 guides a nipple 49 whichis on the end of the fork 5. To move fork 5 there is a lever 53, which protrudes through an opening 51 in the nipple 49. The other end of the lever 53 is attached to the piston rod 55 of the cylinder-piston arrangement 43 and has a swivel axis. The cylinder-piston arrangement 43 may have a simply working pneumatic cylinder so that, when the cylinder is hit by compressed air from one side of the piston, the piston and the piston rod 55 are moved away from the wall, while in case of pressure release, the piston and the piston rod 55 are moved by compression spring 59 into such a position that the fork 5 will be completely pushed forward. According to another embodiment of this invention, the fork 5 may also be pushed forward in a manner similar to the side plates 13, however, the arrangement shown offers, the advantage that the cylinder-piston arrangement 43 can be placed relatively far away from fork 5 which oflers advantages in tem of design because of the attempt to keep the space requirement for all individual parts as small as possible.

According to FIG. 5, another cylinder-piston arrangement 61 is provided in the housing. This arrangement is used for the slow advancing of the press-on plate 7 toward the wall 25.

The press-on plate 7 is positioned on the housing in such a manner that it maybe swung around the swivel axis 63 and may be swung into a rearward position from its end position in which it is arranged parallel to wall 25 and where it comes to rest with a catch 65 at a boss 67 on housing 2. In this rearward position its outside surface fonns an angle of about 10-20 with respect to the wall 25, so that the tiles 24 can be placed and securely held. For the purpose of pressing on the press-on plate 7, cylinder-piston arrangement 61 contains a piston rod 69 on whose outer end there is provided a hemispherical nylon point 71. In case of deflection of the piston rod 69, the nylon point 71 presses against the press-on plate 7 at some suitable point and slowly tips the latter forward. The nylon tip 71 is intendedto prevent damage to the part in that it glides along during every tipping operation. For this part and for the end of the piston rod 69, it is generally advisable to use materials which will not considerably wear each other ofi and which, on the other hand, will not cause too much friction. At the lower end of the boss 69 there is provided a washer which prevents the penetration of mortar into the housing 2.

In order to prevent the press-on plate 7 from suddenly tipping forward, respectively, in order to recover it likewise as the piston rod 69 is pulled back, there is provided a traction spring 73 which is attached at one end to the press-on plate 7 and at the other end at some place on the housing, and which is stressed as the press-on plate 7 is pushed-forward.

On the reverse side of the press-on plate 7 there is provided across 75 (FIGS. 5 and 6) which at its ends contains the four strikers 11 which protrude through the boreholes 9 in the four corners of the press-on plate 7. With respect to the press on plate 7, the cross 75 can be moved forward and backward by a few millimeters, as a result of which the strikers 11 can be moved from a position in which they completely disappear in the boreholes 9 (FIG. 5) into a position in which they roughly protrude about 1-2 millimeters out of the boreholes 9 and over the surface of the press-on plate 7. There is provided a device by means of which the cross 75 and thus also the strikers 11 can be moved forward and backward with a frequency of up to about 10 cps. This vibration or oscillation of the cross 75 can be accomplished by means of magnets, rotatable cam disks, or the like. For thereasons given above, however, it is preferable to use a pneumatically operating device for this purpose likewise.

The number of strikers 1 1 can be any number desired. Basically, it would sufiice to have a single striker arranged in the middle. Because of the central arching of the tiles 24, it is preferable to use two or more strikers which act upon the edges of the tiles 24. The preferred pneumatic vibration device contains a membrance cylinder 77 which is attached on the reverse side of the press-on plate 7. According to FIG. 7, the membrane cylinder 77 consists of a housing 79 whose wall facing toward the press-on plate 7 is constituted by an elastic membrane 83 which is braced by a metal core 81, or the like, and which is firmly clamped at the side edges of housing 79. If compressed air is introduced from the reverse side of the membrane 83, then the membrane 83 will bulge forward while, in case of pressure release, it will again swing back into its relaxed position, as shown in FIG. 7, by virtue of its elasticity.

In the last-named position, the middle portion of the cross 75 located between the press-on plate 7 and the membrane cylinder 77 firmly rests against membrane 83 or its metal core 81 so that the strikers 11 are retracted into the boreholes 9 of the press-on plate 7. When the membrane cylinder 77 ishit by compressed air, the membrane 83 and thus also the cross 75 are pushed toward the press-on plate 7 until the cross 75 comes to rest against the press-on plate 7. When the cross 75 is in this position, the strikers 11 will protrude out of the boreholes 9 in the press-on plate 7. To make sure that the cross 75 will once again swing back when pressure is released from the membrane cylinder 77, there may be attached traction springs to the arms of the cross 75 and the other ends of these traction springs are attached to the fixed housing 79 of the membrane cylinder 77. According to one preferred embodiment, there may be provided compression springs 85 inside the borehole 9 of the press-on plate 7 and these springs are supported on the bosses on the strikers 1 1 and on the walls of the boreholes 9. Also, they are so stressed when the cross 75 is moved, that the cross 75 will again swing fully back into the rearward position when the membrane cylinder 77 is ventilated, that is, when the pressure on the cylinder is released. The compressed-air supply to the membrane cylinder 77 is controlled in a known manner by means of vibration valves.

The switching diagram for a suitable vibration valve 176 is illustrated in FIG. 7a. It contains four valves 176.1 to 176.3 with the entrances P and the exits A (control air) and R (return air). The exit A of valve 176.2 is connected with the membrane cylinder 77. Furthermore, valves 176.2 and 176.3 can be reversed via Z, respectively, Y.

In the first phase, the valve 176.2 receives control pressure via the section P-A of the valve 176.3 and via Z, so that the openings P-A of the valve 176.2 will be connected and so that the membrane cylinder 77 will be hit. But at the same time, a control pressure builds up at Y of the valve 176.3 and this control pressure finally reverses this valve.

As a result of this, pressure is released at Z and due to that valve 176.2 is diverted or switched around and the pressure in the membrane cylinder 77 is once again released. The cycle described then begins all over again.

By means of valves 176.4 and 176.5 there can be brought about reversing delays and the regulation of the oscillation movements.

Although the tile laying machine 1 described here suffices basically by itself in order to place the tiles 24 with great accuracy and increased working speed by moving it after the placement of a tile 24, by a distance corresponding to the width of the tile and by then arranging it in this new position, there is nevertheless provided a feeder part by means of which the tile laying machine 1, after laying each tile 24, is pushed forward automatically by a certain interval which corresponds to the sum of the tile width and the desired seam width. When we use such a feeder part 91 (FIG. 1) the only work the tile layer has to do is to strike the mortarcovered tiles 24 upon the fork 5 and to operate the various pushbuttons, respectively, switches of the tile laying machine 1 in order to start and finish the feed operation, respectively, the mortar application process. Three devices are provided for the exact control of the feed. One device consists of a clamping device 93 for the tile laying machine 1 (FIG. 2b) so that the machine will not move when a tile is put in position. The second device consists of a feeder part 91 by means of which the tile laying machine 1 is moved by a preselected amount of its clamping device 93 is in the active position. The third device consists of a clamping device 101 for the feeder part 91 by means of which the feeder part 91 is firmly clamped during that span of time on the rail 182 during which the tile laying machine 1 is pushed further and which, at a later moment, is in the inactive or disconnected position so that the feeder part 91 can be pulled up for renewed feeding.

According to FIG. 8, the feeder part 91 preferably has a housing on which is attached the cylinder of a pneumatic cylinder-piston arrangement 95 which, for example, has a double-action cylinder. The piston rod 97 of the cylinderpiston arrangement 95 is made to extend laterally out of the housing of the feeder part 91 and is firmly coupled with the tile laying machine 1 by means of a rapid-action clutch or coupling 99 (FIG. 2b) which is located on the side wall of the housing 2 of the tile laying machine 1. Furthermore, there is connected with the housing of the feeder part 91 a cylinderpiston arrangement which constitutes the clamping device 101 and by means of which the feeder part 91 is firmly and immovably clamped on rail 182, in that, a clamping jaw 105 attached to piston rod 103 is firmly pressed against rail 182. This is preferably a single-action cylinder whereby impacting with compressed air brings about the clamping action which is then released again in case of pressure-release by means of a spring 107 so that the feeder part 91 can be moved on rail 182. A similar cylinder-piston arrangement is also provided in the housing 2 of the tile laying machine 1 (FIG. 2b). This cylinderpiston arrangement likewise preferably works in such a manner that, when its cylinder 109 is hit by compressed air, the clamping action takes place whereby the clamping jaw 1 1 l is pressed against the rail 182 and the clamping action is released, in case of ventilation or pressure-release of cylinder 109 by means of a spring 113 so that the tile laying machine 1 can be moved on rail 182.

The cylinder-piston arrangement 95 whose piston rod 97 is coupled with the tile laying machine 1 and which is provided in the housing of the feeder part 91, is operated in the following manner: In case of impact by means of compressed air from one side of the piston (in FIG. 8, from the left) the piston rod 97 is pushed out toward the tile laying machine 1. During this work interval the feeder part 91, for example, may be firmly clamped and the clamping of the tile laying machine 1 can be released. In this case, the tile laying machine is pushed forward by a distance corresponding to the lift or stroke of the cylinder-piston arrangement 95. During the next work interval, the tile laying machine 1 is then clamped and the clamping of the feeder part 91 is released while, simultaneously, the cylinder is hit with compressed air from the other side of the piston (in FIG. 8, from the right). As a result, the piston rod 97 is again pulled into the cylinder. Since the piston rod 97 is arrested via the tile laying machine 1, the unclamped feeder part 91 is pulled along by a distance corresponding to the stroke of the cylinder-piston arrangement 95 so that it will once again come to rest closely next to the tile laying machine 1. However, in order that the tile laying machine 1 can be pushed further in the opposite direction, while the feeder part 91 is in the same relative position, there is provided a valve switch 146 (FIGS. 1 and 10) with an activating lever 115, which will be described later. By reversing the valve switch 146 one can make sure that during the work phase in which the piston rod 97 is pushed out of the cylinder the tile laying machine 1 will be clamped and the feeder part 91 will not be clamped. Thereby the feeder part 91 can be transported in the opposite direction while during the next work phase wherein the piston rod 97 is pulled into the cylinder, the feeder part 91 is clamped and the tile laying machine 1 is not clamped. As a result, the tile laying machine 1 can be drawn after, toward the feeder part 91, so that it will once again be closely next to the latter.

To make sure that the feeder part 91 can be arranged, as required, to the right or to the left of the tile laying machine 1 there are provided both a guide 117 of the feeder part and the rail profile preferably in the symmetrical fashion. There is furthermore provided, on both sides of the housing 2 of the tile laying machine 1, a rapid-action clutch 99 for the piston rod 97 of the cylinder-piston arrangement 95.

The entire assembly works in the following manner:

For the manual control of the operation of the tile placement device described, there are provided, in housing 2 of the tile laying machine 1, two switches 118, 120, two reducing valves I22, 124, and three compressed-air connections 126, 128, and 130. The compressed-air connection 128 is used for connection to a compressed-air source 140 (compressor or compressed-air tank) via the reducing valves. The two compressed-air connections 126, 130 are connected by means of hoses (not shown) with two compressed-air connections 132, 134 on the feeder part 91. They are used to supply the cylinder-piston arrangements 95 and the clamping device 101 of the feeder'part 91 with control air. The switches 118, 120 are used for turning on and turning off the feeder motion, respectively, for turning the various control members of the tile laying machine 1 on or off. The two reducing valves 122, 124 are used to adjust the desired frequency and the desired impact pressure of the strikers 11.

To make sure that the tile laying machine 1 and the feeder part 91 will operate properly, there is provided two control circuits (FIG. Each control circuit has on the input side, a valve 136, 138 which has an entry P to the connection to the compressed-air source 140 (corresponding to connection 128 in FIG. 1), two exits A and B for the supply of the compressedair to the various control members and an exit R for the return air. One valve 136 is so adjustable by means of switch 1 l8 and the other'valve 138 is so adjustable by means of switch 120 that either exit A is connected with the entrance P and simultaneously exit B with exit R or that exit B'is connected with entry P and simultaneously, the exit A withthe exit R. The control members for the feed and the cylinder-piston arrangement 43 are connected into the control circuit which is connected to valve 138. By means of the cylinder piston arrangement, fork 5 of the tile laying machine 1 is moved forward and backward. The other control members are connected to the valve 136. i

In the first control circuit, which is connected to the valve 138, there is a.line 142 which extends from exit A to the cylinder-piston arrangement of the clamping device 93, by means of which the tile laying machine 1 is arrested on the rail 182. Another line 144 leads from exit A via a valve switch l46,-via a reduction valve 148, to an entry 160 of the cylinderpiston arrangement 95, which brings about the feeding action. The exit or output B is connected via a line 150 with the cylinder-piston arrangement 43 for fork 5 and via lines 152, 154 with the cylinder-pistonarrangement for the clamping of the feeder part91 on the rail 182. From'exit B via line 152 there is also a line 156 running via the valve switch 146 and a reduction valve 158 to the other entry or input 162 of the cylinder-piston arrangement 95 for the feeding operation. Valve switch 146 has two inputs P1 and P2 and two outputs A and B. By means of the activating lever 115, provided on the feeder part 91, it can be switched in such a manner that either P1 will be connected with A and P2 with B or P1 with B and P2 with A.

If P1 is connected with R and P2 with B and by adjusting the switch 120 the input P of valve 138 is connected with the out put A and, simultaneously, output B with the return-air output R then the tile laying machine 1 is clamped via line 142 while the cylinder-piston arrangement 95 is impacted via line 144 and through input 160. Since, simultaneously, the cylinderpiston arrangement 43 and the clamping device 101, respectively, the input 162, are connected via lines 150, 152, 154, and 156, with the return-air output R, the fork 5 is in the advanced position and the feeder part 91 is in the unclamped position. Consequently, because of the pressure on the one side of the cylinder, the piston rod 97 is pushed out of the cylinder and this is connected with a movement of-the feeder part 91 (in FIG. 10, to the left). If while the valve switch 146 is in the same position, the valve 138 by activating the switch 120 is moved into that position in which P is connected with B and A is connected with R, then the fork 5 is pulled back via line 150, the feeder part 91 is clamped via the lines 152, 154, the tile laying machine 1 is unclamped via line 142, and the cylinder is impacted via line 156 from the other input 162. As a result the piston rod 97 is pulled into the cylinder and because of this the tile laying machine 1 is drawn along (in FIG. 10, to the left) when the fork 5 is retracted.

This kind of feeding operation is performed as often as tiles have to be placed in one row. At the completion of one row of tiles, the valve switch 146 is placed by means of activating lever into that position in which P1 is connected with B and P2 is connected with A. In this case, the feeding action runs in the opposite direction. In other words, if in valve 138, P is connected with A and B is connected with R, then the clamping of the tile laying machine is turned on via the line 142, while, via line 144 and valve switch 146, the cylinderpiston arrangement 95 is so hit that the piston rod 97 will be drawn into the cylinder. Also, the unclamped feeder part 91 is pulled along toward the tile laying machine (in FIG. 10, to the right). On the other hand, if P is connected with B and A is connected to R by means of switch 120, then the feeder part 91 is clamped via lines 152, 154, the fork 5 is withdrawn via line and the tile laying machine 1 is released via line 142 so that, because the cylinder is hit from input 160, the piston rod 97 will be pushed out of it and the tile laying machine 1 is thus pushed along (in FIG. 10, to the right).

The same operations take place when the feeder part 91 is arranged on that side of the tile laying machine 1 which is opposite to the layout shown in FIGS. 1 and 10.

In the second control circuit, connected to the valve 136,

there are lines 164, 166, 168 which, from output A run to the cylinder-piston arrangement 61 which controls the advancement of the press-on plate 7, while lines 164, 166, '170 lead to an input 172 of the double-action cylinder-piston arrangement 27, by means of which the side plates l3'are pushed forward and backward. Then lines 164, 174 lead to the input P of a vibration valve 176 whose output A is connected with the input of the membrane cylinder 77 via a line 177. From the output B of the valve 136 there merely runs a line 178 to the other input 180 of the cylinder-piston arrangement 27.

If the switch 1 18 is in the position in which the input P of the valve 136, connected with the compressed-air source 140, is connected with the output A and where the output B of this valve is connected with its return air output R, then the presson plate 7 is pushed forward via lines 164, 166, 168, while the side plates 13 are run out via the lines 164, 166, 170. At the same time, the vibration valve 176 is set in motion via lines 164, 174, so that the cross 75, located behind the press-on plate 7, is made to oscillate so that the strikers 1 1 will hammer against the previously inserted tile 24. When switch 118 is changed to that position, in which the input I of the valve 136 is connected with the output 8 and output A is connected with the return-air output R, then the cylinder-piston arrangement 27 is hit from the other input 180 so that the side plates 13 are retracted. Simultaneously, the cylinder-piston arrangement 61 is ventilated i.e. the pressure is released, so that the press-on plate 7 is once again returned to the swung-back position by spring 73 (FIG. 5). Furthermore, the operation of the vibration valve 176 is prevented.

To avoid having the tile layer operate the switches 118 and 120 in the long sequence and, for example, to adjust for feed" when the side plates 13 are still in the advanced position, measures have been taken to make sure that the individual control operations will take place automatically in the following sequence:

The switch 118 is manually placed in that position in which the input P of the valve 136 is connected with the output A. As a result, the press-on plate 7 and the side plates 13 are pushed forward with the simultaneous vibration of cross 75. Connected with switch 118 there is a lever (not shown) whose 'free end is rigidly connected with the press-on plate 7. As a result, the moment the press-on plate has reached its foremost position, the switch 118 will automatically be turned back to that position in which the output P of the valve 136 is connected with B.

Thereupon, the press-on plate 7 and the side plates 13 are automatically pulled back again and vibration stops. The return air, which because of this occurs at the return-air exit R of valve 136, is fed to the valve 138 as control air. The valve 138 is so made that its adjustment can be accomplished either by means of switch 120 or by means of control air.

Due to the return air, which occurs at the retum-air output R of the valve 136, the valve 138 is automatically so switched that its input P is connected with its output B and the tile laying machine 1 is therefore transported further. In this position, the entire device remains at rest until a new tile is inserted and until the switch 1 18 is once again so operated by hand that, inside valve 136, P will be connected with A and B will be connected with R. The return air, which therefore occurs in valve 136, is once again used to switch the switch 120 around so that the feeder part 91 can be shifted accordingly. At the completion of this process the fork 5 is then extended again so that the tile layer can insert the next tile and, by activating switch 118, can commence the next work cycle.

The switching of the unilaterally impacted valve 138 to the return air output R from the return air output R of the valve 136 is accomplished by spring force so that the cylinder of the cylinder-piston arrangement 43 will be ventilated by line 150 and the fork 5 is extended. This control air acts upon the return air exit R of the valve 138 only as long as the return air impulses from the cylinder-piston arrangement 61, 27, and 77 keep up.

This makes it possible, by means of a onetime activation of switch 1 18, to allow all processes necessary for the movement of a tile to take place. For valves 136 and 138 there can be used any known valves. In place of the pneumatic-mechanical reversing of switches 118, 120 there can also be provided an electrical, magnetic, or pure mechanical time control device through which the switches are reversed after preselected time intervals.

The device according to this invention is not confined to the use of pneumatic control members. Pneumatic control members, are used only because they operate particularly reliably and because, due to the interposition of reduction valves and the like, there can be a relatively simple possibility for coordinating the feeding speeds and forces of the various cylinderpiston arrangements with each other and controlling them in such a manner as is necessary for the exact course of the various control processes in terms of time, without their being any need to use delay lines or the like. It is basically also possible to equip all described cylinder-piston arrangements either with single-action cylinders, where a spring is provided in the cylinder housing, by means of which the compressed-air-activated feed takes place in the opposite direction, or to equip them with double-action cylinders which are impacted with compressed air from both sides of the piston and where, consequently, the advance and the return thrust are pneumatically controlled.

In order to have safe guidance of the tile laying machine described it is in itself only necessary to provide a horizontally balanced rail 182 which, considering the desired seam interval, will be at the height that will be correct in each particular case. The type, form, length, and size of rail 182 can be selected as desired.

But care must be taken that there will be no excessive bending because of the weight of the tile laying device in the middle between the stopping points of rail 182.

In FIGS. 1, 11 and 12 there is illustrated the framework by means of which the horizontal rail 182, after completion of one row of tiles, can be lifted in a simple manner together with the tile laying device, each time, by exactly the distance corresponding to the sum of the tile height and the desired seam interval, without there being any need in each case to balance the rail over.

The framework includes, for example, two square profile carriers 184 which are set up exactly perpendicularly at an interval of several meters. In order firmly to anchor the profile carriers 184 in closed spaces, they can be clamped between the floor and the ceiling while, when working on building walls, preferably there can be used clamps which are attached to the building walls. Into the four outside surfaces of the profile carriers 184 there can be used, for example, dovetail grooves 186. Casings 188 are drawn over the profile carriers 184 and the square inside cross section of these casings roughly agrees with the outside cross section of the profile carriers 184. On one side of these casings 188 there is articulated an elbow lever 192 which is swingably positioned around a swivel axis 190 and has two arms 194, 196. One arm 194 is pressed against the profile carrier 184 as a result of the weight of the elbow lever 192 with a rubber plate 198 attached to its end and, thereby the casing 188 is arrested at the selected height. The outer end of the other am 196 of the elbow lever 192 extends essentially horizontally when the casing 188 is arrested. At the end of this arm there is attached a retaining plate 200.

As a fastening means there can be used, for example, a rod 202 one of whose ends is provided with a thread which is screwed into a taphole of the retaining plate 200, and whose other threadless end sticks in a borehole of arm 196 and is fastened there by means of a fastening screw 204. By means of rod 202 the wall interval desired in the individual case may be adjusted between the wall 25 and the tile laying machine 1.

On the upper surface of retaining plate 200 there is a dovetail nipple 206 which is pushed into a dovetail groove of the horizontal rail 182. The dovetail nipple 206 can be swung by means of a lever around a pin so that, after the introduction into the groove, it can be swung by and so that it can thus be clamped against the walls of the groove. Thereby, rail 182, after accurate adjustment of the retaining plates 200, is held in an immovable position with respect to the locally fixed profile carriers 184. In order to accurately balance the rail 182, there can be shifted the casings 188 with respect to each other by lifting the arm 196 of the elbow lever.

However, since after completion of a row of tiles, the tile laying machine 1 must be lifted to a very specific height, there is also provided on casings 188 a device which makes it possible to lift the tile laying machine 1 along with rail 182, by a desired amount which in each case would correspond to the total of the tile height and the seam interval. This device contains a lever 210 which can be swung around a swivel axis 208 and which is so prestressed by means of the spring 212, or the like, that a nipple 214 located at its end will normally protrude through a recess 216 in the casing wall into a dovetail groove 1860f the profile carrier 184 but can be swung out of the a catch 224.

After completion of a row of tiles the nipples 214 are on both ends of the rails 182, swung out of the grooves 186. As a result of this, the spacing rods 218 are pushed so far upward until the catches 224 come to rest against the inferior casing ends 226 which come in the form of catches and until they are then once again clamped firmly. Then the casings 188 are unlocked together by lifting the rail 182 and by simultaneously lifting the entire tile placement device. They are first of all pushed so far upward until the nipples 214 once again snaps into the grooves because of the pressure of springs 212 and after that they are lowered until the nipples 214 come to rest upon the upper catches 220 of the spacing rods 218. When the rail 182 is released the casings 188 are once again firmly arrested in the new position by the action of the elbow lever. Because the shifting of the tile placement device upward thus depends only on the interval between the two catches 224 and 226, one can work with any desired tile size through the selection of suitable spacing rods 218, while retaining the desired seam intervals.

The manner, form, length, and size of rail 182 and of profile carriers 184 can be selected in any desired fashion but, for reasons of stability and smooth operation, it preferred to have the same profiles both for the rail 182 and for the profile carriers 184 and, in particular, square hollow profiles with dovetail grooves in the outside surfaces of the profile. However, all other kinds of profiles are suitable which guarantee a small degree of bending, especially as regards rail 182. The

' would give, considering the profile selected and figuring also on a total weight of a maximum of about 8 kg for the tile placement device, a bending of no more than about 2 mm over at least 4 in length.

In order to be able to make various rail lengths, there is provided connection pieces by means of which (when laying /15 tiles) one can combine 15, 30, 45, 60-cm, etc., long rail sections into one rail with the necessary length. The connection pieces are preferably so made that two rails can also be connected with each other at an angle.

A device,-similar to spacing rod 218 and to the pertinent devices, could also be used in order to shift the tile laying machine 1 horizontally on rail 182 from one tile point to the next tile point. The above-described, automatically operating feeder part 91 however is preferred so that the work of the tile layer will not be hampered and delayed by the lateral shifting of the tile laying machine.

It is furthermore within the framework of this invention, in place of the spacing rod 218 and the pertinent devices, to also use a unit for the vertical transport of the tile laying machine which would correspond to the feeding part 91, especially when it is necessary to cover walls with very large surfaces. Finally, one could provide known program control devices for all feeder units, that is, devices by means of which the required horizontal and vertical shifts of the tile laying machine 1 could be controlled automatically.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for positioning and installing tile on building surfaces, said device comprising a stationary scaffold adapted forpositioning in generally parallel, spaced relation to said surface'and a tile laying unit carried on said scaffold, said unit being mounted on horizontal elements of said scaffold for horizontal movement thereon and the horizontal elements of said scaffold being mounted on vertical elements thereof for 'vertical movement thereon, said unit comprising a-housing,

movable means carried by said housing for supporting a tile thereon'and for pressing-on said tile under pressure onto the area of said surface to be covered by saidtile, said support means being mounted on said housing for movement toward and away from said area, moving means between said support means and said housing for moving said support means toward and away from said housing, and shaking means attached to said support means for vibrating said support means.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said support means contains a plate in the form of a forward closing wall of T said housing and a cross-shaped member on the reverse side of said plate.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said shaking means includes strikers for striking the tile which are attached to said cross-shaped member.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said strikers protrude through boreholes in said plate and compression springs are provided in said boreholes which hold the strikers when said tile laying unit is at rest in a position in which they are withdrawn into said boreholes.

5. A device according to claim 3 including a membrane cylinder having a membrane which can be made to vibrate relative to said plate connected with said plate said crossshaped member having its middle section come to rest against said membrane.

6. Device according to claim 5 wherein said membrane cylinder is pneumatically impacted by means of a virbration valve.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said moving means comprise a cylinder-piston arrangement for moving said support means forward and backward.

8. A device according to claim 1 including a fork guided in said housing, for supporting the tile which is placed on said support means, said fork adaptable to be pushed forward and backward toward the wall area.

9. A device according to claim 8 including a cylinder-piston arrangement for pushing said fork forward and backward.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein side plates are disposed on opposite sides of said housing, which plates by means of guides can be moved forward and backward in said housing.

11. A device according to'claim 10 including a cylinderpiston arrangement for pushing said side plates forward and backward.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein said vertical scaffold elements include at least two vertically positioned, spaced profile carriers and said horizontal element comprises a rail mounted on said carriers.

13. A device according to claim 12, including casings for v retaining said rail which can be moved along said profile carriers and can be clamped firmly on said profile carriers, and restraining plates with clamping device for clamping said rail.

14. A device according to claim 13 including a spacing rod for moving said rail in the vertical direction by a distance corresponding to the total of the tile height and the seam height, each of said profile carriers and each of said casings having grooves on which said rod moves, and said rod has two catches which cooperates with bosses on said casing.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein on each of said casing there is provided a nipple which can be swung into said groove in said profile carrier whereby when a tile row is placed on the wall area will rest on the one catch of said rod when said spacing rod is in this position, the second catch of said rod has an interval from the other boss formed by the lower casing end on the casing corresponding to the total of the tile height and the seam height.

16. A device according to claim 1, wherein said tile laying unit is movable back and forth alongsaid horizontal element, said horizontal elementcomprising a rail.

17. A device according to claim 16, including a clamping device for clamping the tile laying unit on said rail.

18. A device according to claim 16, including feeder means guided on said rail for lateral shifting said tile laying unit after the placement of a tile automatically by an interval corresponding to the total of the tile width and the seam width.

19. A device according to claim 18, including a double-action cylinder-piston arrangement connected with said feeder means, the piston rod of said arrangement being rigidly coupled with said tile laying unit.

20. A device according to claim 19, including a clamping device for clamping said feeder means on said rail.

21. A device according to claim 20, wherein said clamping device consists of cylinder-piston arrangements which are attached to said tile laying unit and feeder means, said arrangement having clamping jaws attached to piston rods whereby when the cylinder-piston arrangement is impacted, are pressed against said rail.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein all cylinderpiston arrangements are pneumatically impacted.

23. A device according to claim 21, including a switching arrangement for said feeder means and said tile laying unit, said switching arrangement having a valve connective with a compressed-air source, a return air output, a first selectively adjustable control air output, said first control air outputs being connected with the clamping device of said feeder means and a first control air input on said cylinder-piston arrangement of the feeder means, a second selectively adjustable control air outputs connected with the control air input of the clamping device for said tile laying unit and with a second control air input of the cylinder-piston arrangement of the feeder means.

24. A device according to claim 23, wherein one of said first control air outputs is connected with the control air input of the cylinder-piston arrangement for pushing the fork forward and backward.

trol air input, and in whose other position the second control air output is connected with the second control air input and the first control air output is connected with the first control air input. 

1. A device for positioning and installing tile on building surfaces, said device comprising a stationary scaffold adapted for positioning in generally parallel, spaced relation to said surface and a tile laying unit carried on said scaffold, said unit being mounted on horizontal elements of said scaffold for horizontal movement thereon and the horizontal elements of said scaffold being mounted on vertical elements thereof for vertical movement thereon, said unit comprising a housing, movable means carried by said housing for supporting a tile thereon and for pressing-on said tile under pressure onto the area of said surface to be covered by said tile, said support means being mounted on said housing for movement toward and away from said area, moving means between said support means and said housing for moving said support means toward and away from said housing, and shaking means attached to said support means for vibrating said support means.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said support means contains a plate in the form of a forward closing wall of said housing and a cross-shaped member on the reverse side of said plate.
 3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said shaking means includes strikers for striking the tile which are attached to said cross-shaped member.
 4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said strikers protrude through boreholes in said plate and compression springs are provided in said boreholes which hold the strikers when said tile laying unit is at rest in a position in which they are withdrawn into said boreholes.
 5. A device according to claim 3 including a membrane cylinder having a membrane which can be made to vibrate relative to said plate connected with said plate said cross-shaped member having its middle section come to rest against said membrane.
 6. Device according to claim 5 wherein said membrane cylinder is pneumatically impacted by means of a virbration valve.
 7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said moving means comprise a cylinder-piston arrangement for moving said support means forward and backward.
 8. A device according to claim 1 including a fork guided in said housing, for supporting the tile which is placed on said support means, said fork adaptable to be pushed forward and backward toward the wall area.
 9. A deviCe according to claim 8 including a cylinder-piston arrangement for pushing said fork forward and backward.
 10. A device according to claim 1, wherein side plates are disposed on opposite sides of said housing, which plates by means of guides can be moved forward and backward in said housing.
 11. A device according to claim 10 including a cylinder-piston arrangement for pushing said side plates forward and backward.
 12. A device according to claim 1, wherein said vertical scaffold elements include at least two vertically positioned, spaced profile carriers and said horizontal element comprises a rail mounted on said carriers.
 13. A device according to claim 12, including casings for retaining said rail which can be moved along said profile carriers and can be clamped firmly on said profile carriers, and restraining plates with clamping device for clamping said rail.
 14. A device according to claim 13 including a spacing rod for moving said rail in the vertical direction by a distance corresponding to the total of the tile height and the seam height, each of said profile carriers and each of said casings having grooves on which said rod moves, and said rod has two catches which cooperates with bosses on said casing.
 15. A device according to claim 14, wherein on each of said casing there is provided a nipple which can be swung into said groove in said profile carrier whereby when a tile row is placed on the wall area will rest on the one catch of said rod when said spacing rod is in this position, the second catch of said rod has an interval from the other boss formed by the lower casing end on the casing corresponding to the total of the tile height and the seam height.
 16. A device according to claim 1, wherein said tile laying unit is movable back and forth along said horizontal element, said horizontal element comprising a rail.
 17. A device according to claim 16, including a clamping device for clamping the tile laying unit on said rail.
 18. A device according to claim 16, including feeder means guided on said rail for lateral shifting said tile laying unit after the placement of a tile automatically by an interval corresponding to the total of the tile width and the seam width.
 19. A device according to claim 18, including a double-action cylinder-piston arrangement connected with said feeder means, the piston rod of said arrangement being rigidly coupled with said tile laying unit.
 20. A device according to claim 19, including a clamping device for clamping said feeder means on said rail.
 21. A device according to claim 20, wherein said clamping device consists of cylinder-piston arrangements which are attached to said tile laying unit and feeder means, said arrangement having clamping jaws attached to piston rods whereby when the cylinder-piston arrangement is impacted, are pressed against said rail.
 22. A device according to claim 21, wherein all cylinder-piston arrangements are pneumatically impacted.
 23. A device according to claim 21, including a switching arrangement for said feeder means and said tile laying unit, said switching arrangement having a valve connective with a compressed-air source, a return air output, a first selectively adjustable control air output, said first control air outputs being connected with the clamping device of said feeder means and a first control air input on said cylinder-piston arrangement of the feeder means, a second selectively adjustable control air outputs connected with the control air input of the clamping device for said tile laying unit and with a second control air input of the cylinder-piston arrangement of the feeder means.
 24. A device according to claim 23, wherein one of said first control air outputs is connected with the control air input of the cylinder-piston arrangement for pushing the fork forward and backward.
 25. A device according to claim 23, including a valve switch between the valve and the control air inputs of the cylinder-piston arrangement, said valve switch Having two adjustable positions in whose first position the second control air output of the valve is connected with the first control air input and the first control air output is connected with the second control air input, and in whose other position the second control air output is connected with the second control air input and the first control air output is connected with the first control air input. 